Protocol to study early lung developmental branching in mouse embryos using explant culture.

Mouse lung branching morphogenesis creates epithelial tree structures required for respiration. Here, we present a protocol for studying mouse lung developmental branching using lung explant cultures. We describe steps for isolating lungs with a video at embryonic day 12.

Embigin deficiency leads to delayed embryonic lung development and high neonatal mortality in mice.

Embigin (Gp70), a receptor for fibronectin and an ancillary protein for monocarboxylate transporters, is known to regulate stem cell niches in sebaceous gland and bone marrow. Here, we show that embigin expression is at high level during early mouse embryogenesis and that embigin is essential for lung development. Markedly increased neonatal mortality of Emb mice can be explained by the compromised lung maturation: in Emb mice (E17.

Embigin is a fibronectin receptor that affects sebaceous gland differentiation and metabolism.

Stem cell renewal and differentiation are regulated by interactions with the niche. Although multiple cell populations have been identified in distinct anatomical compartments, little is known about niche-specific molecular factors. Using skin as a model system and combining single-cell RNA-seq data analysis, immunofluorescence, and transgenic mouse models, we show that the transmembrane protein embigin is specifically expressed in the sebaceous gland and that the number of embigin-expressing cells is negatively regulated by Wnt.